And many spread their garments in the way ,.... Instead of carpets to ride on, and in honour to him as a king: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way ; in token of joy, as at the feast of tabernacles; See Gill on Matthew 21:8 . read more
And they that went before, and they that followed ,.... They that came from Jerusalem to meet him, and they that followed him from Jericho and other parts; which two bodies, the one went before him, and the other followed after him: and cried, saying, Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord ; See Gill on Matthew 21:9 . read more
Blessed be the kingdom of our father David ,.... It was more usual with the Jews to call Abraham their father; but, because the Messiah was David's son, therefore, with respect to him, they here call him their father: and their meaning is, let the kingdom promised to our father David, and to his seed for ever, that cometh in the name of the Lord ; which is now coming, and appears in the auspicious reign and government of his son, the Messiah, who is clothed with majesty and authority; be... read more
And Jesus entered into Jerusalem ,.... this public manner, riding upon an ass, with the multitude attending hin, some going before, and others after, crying, "Hosanna" to him: and into the temple ; which he rode up directly to; the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, leave out the copulative "and"; his great concern being there; and having dismounted, and dismissed the colt, and sent it by proper persons to the owner of it, he went into the temple, into the court of the... read more
He sendeth - two of his disciples - This was done but a few days before the passover. See our Lord's entry into Jerusalem illustrated, on Matthew 21:1-17 (note). read more
Whereon never man sat - No animal was allowed to be employed in sacred uses, even among the heathen, that had previously been used for any domestic or agricultural purpose; and those which had never been yoked were considered as sacred. See several proofs of this in the note on Numbers 19:2 ; (note), and add this from Ovid: - Bos tibi, Phoebus ait, solis occurret in arvis, Nullum passa jugum curvique immunis aratri read more
And straightway he will send him hither - From the text, I think it is exceedingly plain, that our Lord did not beg, but borrow, the colt; therefore the latter clause of this verse should be understood as the promise of returning him. Is not the proper translation the following? And if any one say to you, Why do ye this? Say, the Lord hath need of him, and will speedily send him back hither - και ευθεως αυτον αποστελλει ὡδε . Some eminent critics take the same view of the passage. read more
And they let them go - Having a full assurance that the beast should be safely and speedily restored. read more
In the name of the Lord - Omitted by BCDLU, some others, and several versions. Griesbach leaves it out. Hosanna in the highest! - See on Matthew 21:9 ; (note). read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 11:7
And they brought the colt to Jesus ,.... Where he was, and cast their garments on him ; their clothes to be instead of a saddle, for Christ to sit upon: and he sat upon him ; or "Jesus rode on him", as the Syriac version renders it. The Ethiopic version reads, "they made him to mount him"; that is, the disciples assisted him in getting upon it, and having mounted it, he sat on it without any trouble, though it had never been backed before, and rode on his way to Jerusalem; See Gill... read more